Family Medicine practice vs Community Internal Medicine practice

Visiting this forum again! I was wondering if someone could explain the difference between the Family Medicine practice and the Community Internal Medicine practice. There must be a difference, but I'm kind of confused as to what it might be.

Also, I'd like some clarification about the Community Internal Medicine Care Team approach. It seems as though, even though you're assigned to a Team, you cannot see another physician on the same team and you also can't change Care Teams. Is that right? Thanks!

@stevemurphyaz
Let me see if I can explain my understanding of the two type of community primary care providers for local resididents at at Mayo.

Community Internal Medicine cares for patients age 18 and older. The providers offer general health and wellness care, including preventive exams. They also help manage complex medical conditions, such as heart disease, emphysema and diabetes.

Family Medicine staff care for people of all ages, providing family-oriented comprehensive care, including preconception counseling, prenatal care and delivery; well-woman care; newborn and well-child care; pediatric and adolescent care; and adult/geriatric care.

I myself see a Family Medicine provider and am 67 years old. I have been seen in Fmaily Med for proably about 30 years.

Not sure how Community Internal medicine handles team approach. In Family Medicine, I have a primary provider who happens to be a MD. But if I need to be seen for minor concern, I usually see a PA on her team.

If interested in seeing a different provider, you might want to call appointment desk and ask about policy for changing providers.

Hope that helps.

@roch @stevemurphyaz
I am a patient at (My wife also) Mayo Community Care at Mayo Jacksonville.

You are assigned a primary care physician. When you see other doctors, tests, etc. you primary doctor is notified. There is a team approach as everyone is kept informed about any treatments, office visits, and test you have done regardless of who orders them all your care givers get the information.

When I need to see my primary care doctor outside regular appointments and he does not have a opening they will schedule me to see anohter doctor or PA in the community health care system.

If it is really urgent you get what is called Acute Appointment meaning you will get the first opening of anyone in community care system. For my wife and me this usually means if we call in morning and told acute appointment we usally get a afternoon appointment the same day.

If we call in afternoon they will usually do a next morning visit unless an opening is there in late afternoon.

When I see anyone at Mayo Jacksonville it is referred to as my Mayo Care Team. On my way to Community Health Care lobby I see the lobby for Family Medicene care and do see children where don't see at Community Care.